Nancy Pelosi wins nomination for Speaker of the House

29 November, 2018

And since then, Moulton has expressed confidence the votes are there to sink Pelosi's unopposed campaign to become speaker of the House when the new Congress takes form in January. If she falls far short of 218 votes - the total number she eventually needs to prevail on the floor January 3 if all House members are present and cast a ballot - more Democrats could be encouraged to join the opposition.

Pelosi won the caucus vote 203-32 in an uncontested race.

The vote came after Pelosi struck a tentative deal with the Problem Solvers Caucus, an offshoot of the bipartisan and business-friendly No Labels organization.

Frustration with the Old Guard seems unlikely to dissipate even if Pelosi pulls off a return to House speaker.

Steny Hoyer and James Clyburn, were elected by unanimous consent to their respective posts of Majority Leader and Majority Whip.

On top of that, nine Democrats in the bipartisan group called the Problem Solvers Caucus have vowed to oppose her unless she backs several rules reforms created to make it easier for rank-and-file members to advance bipartisan bills. As New York's Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who beat a top Pelosi ally in an upset primary earlier this year, recently wrote on Twitter, she wants to see a change in leadership, but Pelosi "remains the most progressive candidate". In recent years a growing number of Democrats have pushed behind the scenes for a younger, more diverse House leadership team.

"For some reason, I was told that she viewed me as a big get for her", Higgins said.

"She's battle tested and no one else has demonstrated that they can do what she can do", Democratic strategist Doug Thornell said.

Pelosi was nominated as her party's choice for speaker by Rep. Joe Kennedy of MA, with no fewer than eight colleagues set to second the choice, including Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, the civil rights leader, and three newly elected lawmakers.

A small group of her fellow Democrats opposed Ms Pelosi, but she has secured her party's nomination after negotiations with rank-and-file rebels.

A rump group opposing Mrs. Pelosi's return to the speaker's position says turnover is needed. But one by one, the powerful California congresswoman picked off the would-be challengers and smoothed the skeptics.

"Hakeem's election is helpful to Leader Pelosi, because it's the advancement, in a very substantial position, of someone who most people here view as a new leader and really a rising star", said Rep. Brian Higgins of NY, who signed a letter with 15 other Democrats suggesting they would not vote for Pelosi, but endorsed her last week after she pledged to focus on two of his top policy priorities.

Some are among about a dozen freshmen who had said they want new leadership, but others didn't sign the letter, aides said.

Their demands now are the latest wrinkle in Pelosi's effort to win the speakership, a painstaking campaign she has undertaken in the wake of Democrats' midterm election victories that has involved trying to put down a mini-rebellion among her longtime foes and newcomers demanding change. "But in the end, it's up to them to build an operation and go for it", Thornell said.

Democrats will also vote Wednesday in elections for Democratic leadership positions further down the hierarchy. But she's only giving things to people who can deliver.

Gentry says winning all that matters to Davis, PelicansNov 29, 2018
Coach Alvin Gentry , star Anthony Davis and the Pelicans have repeatedly said they are focused strictly on this season. And while the Celtics are coming off a 124-107 win over the Pelicans, Kyrie Irving knows the team is in a bad spot.

North Carolina hiring Mack Brown as head coachNov 28, 2018
Seven college football players have been suspended following a post-game incident after their rivalry game on Saturday. Those Longhorns teams went 158-48 in Brown's tenure; on two occasions Texas played in the national title game.

Police search villas in northwest Turkey for 'Khashoggi remains'Nov 28, 2018
The prince has been touring Arab countries and presenting a calm front despite worldwide criticism sparked by Khashoggi's murder. The Saudi agents who have been blamed for the killing included some members of the crown prince's security entourage.

Oprah Winfrey thanks fans after mother's death on ThanksgivingNov 27, 2018
Lee is survived by Winfrey and Patricia Amanda Faye Lee, her daughter who she placed for adoption and later reconnected with. She also had two other children - son Jeffrey Lee, who died in 1989 and daughter Patricia Lee Lloyd, who died in 2003.

Nasa confirms Insight touchdown on surface of MarsNov 27, 2018
NASA TV coverage was also shown on the giant screen in New York's Times Square, where crowds huddled under umbrellas in the rain. NASA officials say it will take two to three months for the main instruments to be deployed and put into operation.

Mueller: Ex-Trump campaign chair lied, broke plea agreementNov 27, 2018
Manafort said in the same filing he disagreed with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's assertion that he lied to investigators. For more than a year now, Manafort has been at the heart of several unresolved threads of the Mueller investigation.

Jailed UK student's wife 'fears for his safety'Nov 25, 2018
Mr Hedges was offered, and accepted, the services of a court-appointed lawyer and was also provided with translators, he said. He said he had held a contructive conversation on Thursday with his UAE counterpart Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed.